By Doreen Mokgolo
- Spaza shop owners in Ekurhuleni say they never received the R9-million in promised government funding.
- The City admits no funding has been given out yet due to technical issues.
The much-talked-about campaign to reclaim the township economy in Gauteng’s spaza shops has been nothing but an empty promise for township shop owners.
In Ekurhuleni townships, spaza shop owners have criticised the government’s delayed pledges to help fund their businesses.
In Kwa-Thema, where foreign shop owners were forced out in 2023, locals who took over the shops are struggling to keep their businesses open without the promised help.
The City of Ekurhuleni announced in April that R9-million would be given to help spaza shops and fruit and vegetable sellers.
Bongani Mfobela from Township Spaza Shop Economy says they started five shops in Kwa-Thema in 2021, but couldn’t compete with foreign-owned shops’ low prices.
“To squeeze us out of business they would drop their prices very low to the point that we couldn’t compete anymore,” he said.
Mfobela says they asked many government departments for help but got nothing.
“We only hear about government funding in the media but that money never reaches our people,” he said.
Sphiwe Maphanga from the Mabahambe Civic Movement, which helped remove foreign-owned shops, says many local owners are giving up.
“Those who are desperate have resorted to raising funds through stokvels that rotate buying each other stock weekly,” he said.
City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini admitted no one has received the promised funding due to “technical issues”.
The city is now reviewing its laws for spaza shops through roadshows across the region.
Pictured above: Raid of foreign-owned tuckshops.
Source: Supplied
